Western Kansas world. [volume] (WaKeeney, Kan.) 1885-current, 1887-04-09
Shelter Belts.

The first defect noticed with many
shelter belts is that they are too close ia
the objects to be protected. Another
mistake frequently made is to plant only
one kind of deciduous trees, which may
hold the snow when young, and while
they have many small branches near the
ground, but, as they grow larger or the
branches die out and drop off, and the
snow is found to pass through the bar
riers and pile up in the yard. To make
proper shelter belt certain general prin-
ciples should be observed. For example,
If to be made of deciduous trees, several
rows should be planted, and plant close
In row, and put rows such a distance
apart es the trees planted require. Where
but little room can be devoted to wind
breaks, evergreens properly planted give
more and better protection than several
rows OF trees that have no leaves In win
ter. For this purpose Norway spruce,
Scotch pine, or any of the free-growing
varieties are good. But if a well kept
Evergreen hedge is desired, plant Arbor
Vitae or Red cedar. They will stand
clipping to any reasonable extent, and If
planted two to four feet apart will soon
make dense wall that will break drift
ing snow. OF course, for city lots, and
near residences, where high wind break
would be undesirable, this plan is prefer
able. Bnt the great need of shelter belts
is around the farm-h house and barn-yard,
and the majority of farmers desire what
costs but little money and care.
A cheap wind break can be made as
follows: Plant on inside row of Lom-
hardy poplar cuttings, two feet in row.
Leave three feet, and plant two or more
rows of Willow cuttings, one foot in row,
rows ten feet apart. Outside of this
plant one or two rows of Russian mulbsr-
ry, set out one foot In row, If ground is
in good condition when set, in two years,
with good cultivation, they will stop the
snow, and increace in value with age.
The cuttings prepared cost but trifie;
and make good wind-break, besides
furnishing fruit for birds and poultry
A nicer shelter belt is to have outside
and inside rows of Russian mulberry,
with two or more rows of evergreen be-
tween, giving the evergreen more room,
say 20 feet from mulberry rows, and ever
green's planted four to six feet in rows.
Some years since [ gave the Taylor Go.
Horticultural Society an account of
Scotch pine wind break-a single row
planted four feet apart, and kept clipped.
I continued the clipping for several years,
but for the past three years they have
not been clipped. I have no reason to
change the opinion as to their value as
expressed then, and where little space can
be spared I unhesitatingly recommend
single row of evergreens. In making any
kind of shelter belt the ground should
be well prepared, and especially with
evergreens good cultivation should be
given for the first few years. To those
who have only planted evergreens in
sodded yard the rapid growth of wel-cul-
tivated evergreens will be surprise. It
is important to keep all kinds of stock,
grown animals, out of young
trees until they attain considerable size
and strength. There is nothing on the
farm of so great value, that costs so little,
as good wind break, and it is surprising
that so many farmers make no effort to
supply this much needed improvement.
Even two or three rows of willows are
great help, and cost almost nothing to
plant out and cultivate two or three
years, after which they require no fur
Their care.